FAQ

Who teaches and mentors at Stanton?Children at Stanton work every week with at least two adult mentors: Beth Mai and Josina McCulloch. Beth is a former teacher of children K-12 in public education with nearly 20 years of experience who made the decision to provide her children and others in the community with an enriching and rewarding learning environment by founding Stanton Academy. Josina is a highly qualified and experienced Montessori teacher who brings a variety of complementary skills to this core mentor team. Throughout the year, some parents and guests may also mentor children in some areas. We frequently partner with community members to enrich the learning experiences of children in our program.

How do parents contribute to the group?Parents contributions are an integral component of the programs at Stanton Academy. Contributions may take the form of mentoring children in an area of expertise, assisting the lead mentor during gym units, helping to supervise children on field trips, helping to plan special days, and through supporting their children's learning experiences. We recognize that every parent has different interests and skills and we work to plan together so that the quality of Stanton is high and that parents are contributing in ways that make them feel comfortable and valued. Parents who wish to be involved but are unable to participate directly due to other commitments should contact us to discuss options.

What is the cost to participate in Stanton Academy?Parents pay a fee for each child that participates in the Stanton Academy program. The cost of materials for program supplies, rentals, and field trips are shared by the group, as is the cost of mentors engaged for the benefit of children at Stanton. The total cost of a year at Stanton depends on the specific choices of learning experiences made in preparation for the year. The budget for each year is set before registration occurs for the upcoming year. The cost for the 2018-2019 year is $900.

How do I know if Stanton is right for my child?Stanton is a place where children are respected and valued as individuals. Children help to plan the learning cycles according to their interests and work according to their abilities. The experiences are enriching and allow children to use their gifts and talents. We meet children where they are developmentally and help them to grow as young people. Stanton is a warm and caring community that the children look forward to every week. All Stanton families are committed to the core values that form the foundation of the program.

Stanton is secular in nature. This means that there is no religious or spiritual basis to activities. Materials that we use recognize the findings of the majority of the scientific communities and are free of neutral science, intelligent design, and religious bias. This does not mean that Stanton families are free of faith; rather, we simply agree that religious interests must not generate bias or inaccuracies in other areas of study. For examples of what we do at Stanton, please click here.

Children who participate in Stanton will enjoy intellectual stimulation, academic challenge, and many opportunities for enriching and rewarding experiences throughout the year.

Stanton welcomes children who are 6-13, with the child-to-mentor ratio never exceeding 1:8. In most cases, the ratio is 1:6.

If you like what you see and want to learn more, please get in touch with us to talk more about whether Stanton is a good fit for your family. Email stantonlearning@gmail.com and set up a phone meeting. Visits to our learning space and face-to-face meetings are also welcome!